The Logistics of Logistics

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Richard Lebovitz and Joe Lynch discuss leading inventory attack teams. Richard is the CEO of LeanDNA , a purpose-built analytics platform for factory inventory optimization. About Richard Lebovitz Richard Lebovitz is the CEO of LeanDNA , a purpose-built analytics platform for factory inventory optimization. acquired by SAP).

Optimal Sourcing 278

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Manufacturing Procurement 278

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 30, 2023

Each executive has a different perspective on the definition of supply chain excellence, but they are never discussed and aligned. His organization purchased an advanced planning technology from well-known best of breed provider, and the implementation should have been successful, but it was not. What Is The Ring of Fire?

Supply Chain Planning Software 387

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Agile and Lean Supply Chain Eliminating Excel in Purchasing 387

Supply Chain Shaman

APRIL 27, 2022

Supply chain excellence is easier to say than to explain. At each company, there is a relationship between the metrics of growth, margin, inventory, customer service, and asset strategy. Keith was an undisputed leader in building talent to drive manufacturing excellence. The reason? Discontinued in 2011.

Procurement Analytics 369

Procurement Analytics Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 369

Supply Chain Shaman

MARCH 21, 2024

During the 1980s, I was on a management team for a large manufacturer. The Company was attempting to gain economies of scale by grouping manufacturing technologies within a common infrastructure to reap the benefits of a co-generation facility, a centralized warehouse, and a talented administrative team. (The Let me explain.

Inventory Reduction 434

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Planning Software Cost Reduction Strategies Supply Chain Design Software 434

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 30, 2025

Aptean is orchestrating the Blue Yonder/E2open/Infor playbook of buying undervalued assets and milking the maintenance and Software-as-a-Service contracts with existing customers. The Salesforce.com model is primarily a pipeline management tool suitable for discrete markets but not process manufacturers. Will this change the market?

Supply Chain Planning Software 221

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Modeling Software 221

Supply Chain Shaman

NOVEMBER 21, 2024

Most of the business networks were hollowed out by venture capitalists or purchased by opportunists. Yawn and walk on if the answer is i mproving demand error or reducing inventory levels. The session is open to manufacturers, retailers, consultants, and academics. The business network market is in need of innovation.)

Supply Chain Planning Software 396

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Software Modeling Supply Chain Network Software 396

RFgen

DECEMBER 19, 2024

By maximizing space utilization, improving inventory control , and boosting workflow efficiency, you can unlock significant cost savings and elevate your customer service game. Essential technology solutions, including Warehouse Management Systems (WMS), Inventory Management Systems (IMS), and the transformative power of IoT and automation.

Optimal Sourcing 97

Optimal Sourcing Optimization Software Waste Reduction Modeling 97

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 7, 2023

Today, I speak at the North American Manufacturing Association, Manufacturing Leadership Conference, in Nashville on the use of data to improve supply chain resilience. Interestingly, in Q3 2023, 38% of manufacturers, distributors and retailers missed their target for revenue guidance for the quarter. The result was restatement.

Supply Chain Design Software 395

Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Supply Chain Software 395

SCMDOJO

DECEMBER 5, 2024

Leveling up your inventory life cycle can be crucial, but keeping all the fundamental factors jumping is essential to let the life cycle evolve. However, if the life cycle stock is healthy, inventory management is smooth. Inventory management revolves around the pivotal concept of the product life cycle. Click here!

Inventory Reduction 98

Inventory Reduction Inventory Management Software Optimal Sourcing Inventory Management 98

Kinaxis

OCTOBER 20, 2014

by John Westerveld Over the years, working for and with numerous manufacturing companies, I’ve seen many supply chain practices that cost companies money. Reason #4 Making key decisions by modelling the supply chain in Excel. Reason #6 Not effectively managing inventory. Except that your inventory costs millions of dollars.

Supply Chain Planning Software 257

Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Reduction Modeling Cost Reduction Strategies 257

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 9, 2024

Nvidia, Northrup Grumman, PACCAR Inc, PCA (Packaging Corporation of America), ResMed, Rockwell Automation, Ross Stores, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) Company, Tempur-Pedic, TJX, Toro, Toyota, West Pharma, United Tractors, and Urban Outfitters. How Do You Define Excellence? An average margin of 21% with inventory turns of 1.58

Supply Chain Planning Software 386

Supply Chain Planning Software Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Planning Gartner 386

Supply Chain Shaman

JANUARY 25, 2024

My definition of a network is the bi-directional information exchange of manufacturing, procurement, quality, and transportation signals across multiple tiers of trading partners in a many-to-many trading partner information exchange with minimal latency. Today, this network operates with less capacity and ballooning inventories.

Supply Chain Network Software 359

Supply Chain Network Software Manufacturing Procurement Inventory Reduction Purchasing Skills 359

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 10, 2025

In May 2025, one in seven home-purchase agreements fell through resulting in the cancellation of 56,000 purchase contracts. Technology can automate role-based views up and down the river of demand for all roles: marketing, sales, finance, manufacturing, procurement, transportation, and human resources.

Supply Chain Planning Software 195

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Software Waste Reduction 195

Silvon Software

APRIL 16, 2025

Inventory is the lifeblood of any manufacturing business. By leveraging analytics and key performance indicators (KPIs), manufacturers can optimize inventory, reduce waste, and boost profitability. Tracking inventory flow and performance across your supply chain is a must. But what exactly should you measure?

Optimal Sourcing 65

Optimal Sourcing Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Optimization Price Mitigation Strategies 65

Logistics Viewpoints

MARCH 9, 2023

Commerce is global and regional at the same time, the world is getting smaller and more interconnected, and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturers operate in this build-anywhere and sell-anywhere market. The classical approach involves functional silos, sequential decisions, and Excel and people to render a plan executable.

Supply Chain Planning Software 283

Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Forecasting Software Optimization Software 283

Supply Chain Shaman

FEBRUARY 1, 2024

Rolling up a perpetual inventory signal takes eleven hours. Through the use of a NoSQL unified data model, the company is able to now move data within 15-minute increments improving the data flow for inventory availability to improve allocation and ATP processing. Contract Manufacturing Signal Latency. On average, it takes 2.8

Supply Chain Planning Software 392

Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Waste Reduction 392

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 30, 2014

Consumers became more loyal to retail brands, and retailers increased the number of products manufactured and marketed as house brands. Consumers want to shop anywhere, and buy in the way that they want to buy. Current State of Perpetual Inventory. Replenishment is fueled by an effective perpetual inventory signal.

Optimal Sourcing 353

Optimal Sourcing Forecasting Forecasting Software Supply Chain Network Software 353

Supply Chain Shaman

JULY 6, 2020

Frank, the line manager for manufacturing, dominated the meetings. Tom, the colorful warehouse manager, constantly heckled Frank for the increasing inventory levels while Ed, the quiet material/logistics manager, constantly questioned if there was a better way. Frank had little patience for Ed. As a result, we shelved Ed’s idea.

Agile and Lean Supply Chain 362

Agile and Lean Supply Chain Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Strategy 362

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 27, 2022

In the process, there is a fine line between marketing hype and overpromising, making buying difficult. McKinsey promises improved agility (not defined) with up to a 30% reduction in operational cost and a decrease in inventory of 75%. (I For many tech providers, the message often becomes a religious argument. Digital Supply Networks.

Supply Chain Software 418

Supply Chain Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Strategy 418

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023

If S&OP efforts were that effective, don’t you think that we would have made more progress against inventory levels, margin, and growth? The issues are largely rooted in politics and the lack of clarity on supply chain excellence. Or planned orders to purchase orders?) And how do we measure it? (Is I don’t know.

Supply and Demand 431

Supply and Demand Supply Chain Planning Software Modeling Demand Planning 431

Kinaxis

SEPTEMBER 10, 2014

Over the years, working for and with numerous manufacturing companies, I’ve seen many supply chain practices that cost companies money. Excess and obsolete inventory. S&OP is all about aligning manufacturing and sales. When you don’t make what you sell and don’t sell what you make you create inventory. Sound familiar?

Supply Chain Planning Software 235

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning S&OP Supply Chain Software 235

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 23, 2014

At that time, manufacturers talked about customer-centric supply chains, but were afraid to aggressively adopt ecommerce strategies. Manufacturers, today, are aggressively pursuing e-commerce strategies. Get Good at Having a Real-time Perpetual Inventory Signal. No matter where inventory is, put it to work. Redefine it.

Packaging 332

Packaging Supply Chain Design Software Inventory Reduction San Francisco 332

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 3, 2015

We were discussing the results of the planning benchmarking work that we have just finished, and I was sharing some insights on inventory management when one of the panelists emphatically stated, “Inventory is a waste to manage. We feel so strongly about this that we do not have an inventory planning role.”

Waste Reduction 150

Waste Reduction Inventory Reduction Inventory Optimal Sourcing 150

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 16, 2014

Despite two decades of advancement in supply chain technologies, companies are struggling to gain balance at the intersection of operating margin, inventory turns and case fulfillment. The greatest gap is in the design of supplier and manufacturing networks. I would build an expertise system in the Supply Chain Center of Excellence.

Supply Chain Design Software 319

Supply Chain Design Software Network Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Network Software 319

IQMS

MARCH 24, 2023

Inventory is typically one of a manufacturer’s top three investments, making it a central factor in the business’ success. Too much inventory wastes capital; too little inventory delays production. Let’s look at common inventory management challenges and how they can be addressed using a manufacturing ERP system.

Purchasing Skills 52

Purchasing Skills Inventory Manufacturing Procurement Inventory Management Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

JUNE 3, 2024

similarly, over 95% of manufacturers invested and implemented supply chain planning, but their primary tool today is Excel. How does the plan tie to the balanced scorecard of growth, inventory health, operating margin, customer service, and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)? ” Does the Dog Hunt? (The Makes sense.

Supply Chain Planning Software 369

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software Forecasting Software 369

DELMIA Quintiq

SEPTEMBER 14, 2023

Medical Device manufacturers face an increasingly dynamic and intricate landscape. Innovative personalized manufacturing approaches have emerged, yet many organizations struggle to fully realize their potential in this rapidly evolving race.

Optimal Sourcing 156

Optimal Sourcing Manufacturing Procurement Material Savings Optimization Software 156

Supply Chain Shaman

SEPTEMBER 27, 2021

The secondary problem is the lack of definition of process requirements and a buying team that cannot see past simple MRP/MRP II/DDMRP requirements. Today, there are no authoritative identifiers to track and trace for containers, warehouse locations, trucks or manufacturing plants. These are authoritative identiers. Close this gap.

Supply Chain Planning Software 390

Supply Chain Planning Software Sourcing Strategies Manufacturing Procurement Supply Chain Design Software 390

Logistics Viewpoints

APRIL 14, 2022

Supplier problems will cause a cascade of problems up and down the value stream, leading to supply order delays that cause inventory shortages, production disruptions, missed shipments and lost revenue. In addition, it must be able to understand and track supplier orders and manufacturing progress including VMI and BOM collaboration.

Supply Chain Planning Software 284

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Software Forecasting Software Procurement Solutions 284

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 26, 2023

Like Linus clinging to his blanket, supply chain teams make most of their decisions on Excel spreadsheets. Demand latency (the time from purchase by the customer to order visibility by the manufacturer) is weeks and months. Relational database structures are a barrier to modeling relationships and flow. Market-Knowledge Graph.

Optimal Sourcing 369

Optimal Sourcing Modeling Supply and Demand Manufacturing Procurement 369

Logistics Viewpoints

AUGUST 12, 2024

Pirelli needed to move from using an army of representatives visiting dealer sites, showing them massive catalogs, and saying to the dealer, “You could buy this or this or this.” In some cases, the company had to buy market data. Not every plant could manufacture every SKU. This was something they could not do with Excel.

Modeling 307

Modeling Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software Modeling Software 307

Logistics Viewpoints

DECEMBER 12, 2022

This manufacturer produces plastic reusable material handling containers and plastic fuel tanks. The Company operates eighteen manufacturing facilities, nine distribution centers located throughout North and Central America. At Dow, Mr. Baker had Purchasing experience in raw materials, and logistics for their plastics supply chain.

Supply Chain Planning Software 261

Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Procurement Solutions Scenario Planning 261

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 1, 2014

As hospitals adopted consignment planning programs, inventory progress slowed. The turns are the lowest of any industry, and despite investments in technologies and processes, inventory turns have only improved 3%, and Cash-T0-Cash (C2C) cycles have declined 4%. This precipitous drop in margin hurts. Companies are feeling pain.

Supply Chain Planning Software 333

Supply Chain Planning Software San Diego Supply and Demand Pharmaceutical 333

o9 Solutions

JUNE 9, 2025

Instead of high-level frameworks, attendees heard directly from global manufacturers including RHI Magnesita, Teleflex, and Marelli. The company reported early gains, including a 24 percent reduction in inventory levels and verified cost savings exceeding €81 million. The agenda prioritized outcomes over abstraction.

Manufacturing Procurement 52

Manufacturing Procurement Europe Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 52

Supply Chain Shaman

AUGUST 18, 2022

At the end of a long day of a strategy session on supply chain excellence with a client, I needed to fill up some time in an agenda. This large food manufacturer used a popular technology to forecast monthly using orders as an input. The strategy day owner was a global process center of excellence leader. The result? Background.

Supply and Demand 259

Supply and Demand Demand Planning Software Supply Chain Planning Software Optimal Sourcing 259

Supply Chain Shaman

DECEMBER 4, 2018

For the past five years, the team at Supply Chain Insights identified Supply Chains to Admire Award Winners by analyzing performance by peer group on the key metrics of growth, operating margin, inventory turns and Return on Invested Capital (ROIC). At Rockwell this includes all processes end-to-end except for manufacturing.

Supply Chain Software 30

Supply Chain Software Case Study Supply Chain Planning Software Supply Chain Design Software 30

Supply Chain Shaman

MAY 3, 2015

When it comes to the management of inventory in value chains, frustration abounds. Executive, after executive, lament, “They have purchased many technologies and sponsored many projects to reduce inventories, but they are not seeing results.” Inventory is the culmination of many business decisions.

Inventory Reduction 150

Inventory Reduction Supply Chain Design Software Supply Chain Planning Software Inventory Management Software 150